Letter 6003: Grand requests require a preamble; for easy favors, there's no need for elaborate pleading.
Grand requests require a preamble; for easy favors, there's no need for elaborate pleading. So let me be brief and to the point about what my friend Fulvius asks of you. He wishes, with your blessing, to marry the sister of Pompeianus — a woman long since of marriageable age. He is no less distinguished in family than she, and perhaps wealthier. I won't count among the wedding gifts the admirable qualities of his life or the promising connections he enjoys through good men's friendships — a man's own character and prospects belong to him alone. My commitment to seeing this match through is longstanding enough that I'll consider it a great personal favor if your efforts advance his cause. Since what is being asked is honorable in purpose and easy to accomplish, I urge you to apply as much energy to moving the matter forward as you can guess I want. Farewell.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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